Minnesota Renaissance Festival

Fun At The End Of Summer

This lens is about another great local place to go. I love the Renaissance Festival. It takes place outside of Shakopee, MN. That's about a 45 minute drive from my house. It was where my husband and I went for our first date, but I loved it before then. Watching those people walk around in period costumes and put on shows is a great time.

Photo courtesy danay.com

What's Here?

If you go to the Minnesota Renaissance Festival, be prepared to have a great time. You'll probably also spend a lot of money.

The Festival runs from the middle of August to the end of September. It's only open on weekends and Labor Day. Each weekend is based on a different theme. What that means is you get to learn about different parts of the world during the Renaissance Era.

There's great food, great shows, and there's even "people-powered" rides for kids. You can also choose to take a "people-powered" taxi anywhere on the grounds. All the people are dressed in costume, and they talk like they did back in that time. They even stage a "joust". It's the real thing, with the knights in suits of armor and riding horses.

There's a Raptor show, music all over the grounds, and lots and lots of shopping. You can buy everything from period costumes, to weapons, to jewelry, to just your basic souvenirs.

I could go on forever about this place, but the best thing for you to do, is to go there yourself.

Photo courtesy of danay.com

Each Weekend This Year

AUGUST 17TH & 18TH: ITALIAN CARNIVALE

Bird Show

Bocce Ball Tournament

Garlic Farmer/Demos

Arabian Horse Show

Spaghetti Eating Contest

AUGUST 24TH AND 25TH: Royal Ale Fest

BBQ Competition and Vendors

Free Grain Belt Beer Tastings

Homebrew Competition

Beer Demos

Tattoo Competition

7TH ANNUAL PET FEST

AUGUST 31ST ,SEPTEMBER 2ND, & 3RD: Silk Road: Discover The Riches

Longbow Competition

Belly Dance Lessons and Performances

Belly Dance Competition

Middle Eastern Music

SEPTEMBER 7TH & 8TH: Highland Fling!

World Highland Games

MN Highland Games

Midwest Women's Highland Games

Scottish Vendors and Food

Free Schell's Beer Tastings

Sign Language Saturday

Kilt Competition

SEPTEMBER 14TH & 15TH: Wine, Chocolate, & Romance

Wine and Chocolate Festival

Free Sutter Home Wine Tastings

Homemade Wine Competition

Men In Tights Competition

Best Bloomers

Charity Auction

Free Wine Tastings

Free Vow Renewals

Chocolate Pie Eating Contest

Grape Stomp

SEPTEMBER 21ST & 22ND: Oktoberfest

Beer Tastings

German Vendors and Activities

Pub Parade

Beer Demos

Beard Competition

FESTIVAL FRIDAY: September 27TH

Discounted Admission and Group Rates

Educational Classes

Ladies Shopping Day

LAARP

SEPTEMBER 28TH & 29TH: Shamrocks and Shenanigans

Harvest Market

Irish Village and Food

Irish Dancers And Music

Cricket Demos and Games

Free Guinness Beer Tastings

Kilt Competition

New this year:

Cupcake Battle

As you can see, every weekend has things to do in it. I suggest this for everyone!

Photo courtesy of Unicorn Screensavers and Wallpaper CD-Rom

More Info Here

Here's where you can go to find out any other information you might want.

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